[ *9 1 
jrig the Nature of the principal Contents of them. 
So copious is the Subject, that my chief Endeavour 
muff be, to give fuch an Account, as may be fatif- 
fadtory, and anfwer the End propofed, without ex¬ 
ceeding the Bounds I have let myfelf. It is feme 
Degree of Merit to mean well: I (hall, therefore, 
without farther Apology, proceed. 
„ \ 
COLLECTIO SLOANIANA. 
There are many Pieces of Antiquity in this 
Room, confiding of a great Number of Urns, Vef- 
fcls, &v. ufed of old by different Nations, which 
after having been long buried in the Ruins of the 
Temples, and other public and private Buildings, 
and for many Ages, when by Accident found, 
efteemed of no Vstorth, are now preferved with the 
utmoft Care in the feveral Mufeums, as Objedts of 
Value, and worthy the greateft Attention of the 
Learned. Many dark Paffages in the ancient Hi- 
ftorians are explained by them; and we are by 
their means made acquainted with fome important 
Matters relative to the Hiftories of the refpedlive 
Nations where they were tiled, which their Writers 
have omitted to mention. Many Things deemed 
of fmall Value by a vulgar Obferver, when viewed 
by the Learned, are found to be of abundant Ufe 
to Science. It is on this Account that the World 
cannot boaft of fo many Antiquities as it could 
otherwife have done •, for though Time is a great 
Deftroyer of human Produdtions, the Iron Hand 
of Ignorance and Superftition has often done 
Learning more real Injury in one Year, than Time 
in many Centuries. What Lengths will not Igno¬ 
rance run, when animated by a falfe Zeal ? 
B 2 
The 
